Woman injured in Massillon house fire

Firefighters were still at the scene of a house fire near The Legends of Massillon golf course at 2 p.m. Monday. The blaze broke out around 1 p.m. A woman who was inside the house was rescued and rushed to a hospital. She had apparently suffered burns.

A city woman was seriously injured Monday afternoon when flames scorched the inside of her home on Cyprus Drive SE.

City firefighters rescued Nancy Hamilton from the burning home about 1 p.m. Monday and frantically worked to save her. She initially was rushed to Affinity Medical Center and later transported by helicopter to the Akron Children's Hospital burn center, which also treats adults, according to Massillon Fire Chief Tom Burgasser.

"She received serious burns and respiratory compromise," Burgasser said. "Her injuries appeared to me to be life threatening."

Medics administered CPR to Hamilton on the front porch of her single-story home as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

The fire broke out inside the home, at 2525 Cyprus Drive SE, which is near The Legends of Massillon golf course, according to Burgasser, who was mum when asked to speculate on the cause of the fire and where in the home it might have originated. "The fire did not occur naturally," said Burgasser, adding that an investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Firefighters were able to control the blaze quickly, and damage to the home did not result in a "total loss," the chief said. The Ohio fire marshal was notified and is assisting in the investigation.

A few neighbors gathered near the scene.

One of them, Carolyn Lindenberger, said she called 911 as soon as she noticed smoke coming from the house. She said Hamilton lived alone and had a small dog.